Setting up a new business blog? Here's my tips for getting started:
- Register your blog with Google Webmasters and be sure to add your sitemap.
- Do keyword research to identify what terms people are interested in getting to your blog from. It's not necessarily what you 'do' that's important, it's how you're found.
- Set up Google Analytics or another comparable analytics application.
- Add a filter to block your company and consultants traffic from showing up on your Analytics reports.
- Ensure your post pages have multiple, excellent Calls-To-Action in the sidebar - whitepapers, case studies, newsletter sign-ups, contact forms, product purchases are all good CTA examples.
- Use urgent and commanding wording in your CTAs (Download, Now, etc.)
- Apply a graphic that's actionable - like a button with a mouse pointer.
- Integrate your CTAs with your Analytics platform so you can measure how you're driving traffic to your business.
- Test, reposition and rotate your CTAs often.
- Use Whitespace effectively.
- Use Images that are relevant.
- Utilize bulleted lists.
- Utilize ordered lists.
- Use bold and subheadings to highlight key words and phrases.
- Use a sticky post to introduce yourself.
- Use various types of blog posts - video, explanatory, data, how-to, top 10 ways to...
- Publish your RSS feed on your websites. Cross-link between your site and blog often.
- Publish your RSS feed on your social networks.
- Rotate employee bloggers that don't blog consistently and get ones that do.
- Add a favicon to your blog.
- Match your blog's design to your website.
- Advertise your blog in your email signatures.
- Publish your blog's feed to your email newsletter.
- Set up Google Alerts for your company, products, employees, industry, etc. Respond through your blog and their sites.
- Setup a Twitter account and publish your RSS feed to Twitter using Twitterfeed.
- Register your company with Google Local Business.
- Register with social bookmarking sites to promote great content.
- Talk about your customers, not you.
- Write pithy, relevant, simple content frequently and consistently with compelling titles.
- Measure often to figure out what keywords and content are attracting business. Adjust your content and strategies accordingly.
I'd be remiss if I didn't tell you that
Compendium Blogware accomplishes most of these, automates a few more, and consults with our clients on the additional external strategies.
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